‘I thought he was having a stroke’: Jill says Biden’s 2024 debate ‘scared me to death’

WASHINGTON, DC: Former first lady Jill Biden said she feared former President Joe Biden was “having a stroke” while watching his faltering performance during the June 2024 presidential debate against President Donald Trump.

In a clip released ahead of a CBS interview scheduled to air on Sunday, May 31, Jill described feeling alarmed as she watched the then-81-year-old president struggle through the televised debate in Atlanta. The performance triggered widespread scrutiny of Biden’s age and mental fitness, eventually leading him to withdraw from the race weeks later and endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Joe Biden’s 2024 debate performance sparked health concerns

Jill described feeling alarmed while watching Joe Biden’s 2024 debate against now-President Donald Trump, saying she had “never ever seen Joe like that before or since.” In the interview clip, she said she was “frightened” and recalled thinking, “As I watched it, I thought: ‘Oh, my God, he’s having a stroke.’” She added that the moment “scared me to death.”

At the time, Jill publicly defended her husband’s performance as she praised Biden, saying,“Joe, you did such a great job. You answered every question. You knew all the facts.”

Following the debate, concerns about Biden’s age and mental acuity became a dominant issue in the presidential race. Democratic lawmakers, donors and strategists increasingly questioned whether Biden should remain the party’s nominee.

During the 90-minute exchange, Biden at times paused during responses, spoke with a raspy voice and stumbled over several answers. At one point, Biden said, “We finally beat Medicare,” in a moment that quickly drew national attention. His campaign later clarified that he intended to say his administration had “beat big pharma.”

Trump responded during the debate by saying: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.” 

Jill Biden revisits moment that changed the 2024 election

Jill Biden’s latest remarks come ahead of the release of her memoir, ‘View from the East Wing’, in which she is expected to detail the turbulent final months of Biden’s re-election campaign and his decision to exit the race.

The former first lady remained one of Biden’s closest advisers throughout his presidency and political career. Her comments add fresh insight into the emotional impact of the debate inside the Biden family during a critical period for Democrats.

Former Vice President Harris also reflected critically on Biden’s decision to remain in the race for as long as he did. In her memoir, she wrote, “‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized.” Harris added, “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”

Since leaving office, Biden has continued to face questions about his health. Earlier this year, he revealed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. He later completed radiation treatment, according to his office.